LOS ANGELES: Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas paid attention last weekend when the highest-seeded teams in their regional started toppling like so many dominoes. The Ohio State stars both wondered whether any big names could survive the wild West.

Now that they're on the brink of a second straight trip to the Final Four, Craft and Thomas are confident they won't be the next marquee program to fall to the likes of Wichita State.

LOS ANGELES: LaQuinton Ross hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play, and Ohio State advanced to the brink of its second straight Final Four appearance with a 73-70 victory over Arizona on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals.

Ross, the Buckeyes' remarkable reserve, scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half for the second-seeded Buckeyes (29-7), who rallied from an early 11-point deficit and weathered the sixth-seeded Wildcats' late charge for their 11th consecutive victory since mid-February.

DAYTON: Aaron Craft hit a 3-pointer with a half-second left, and Ohio State escaped Dayton — a place of heartaches — as the lone high seed left in the NCAA tournament's wild West Regional, beating Iowa State 78-75 on Sunday.

No. 2 Ohio State (28-7) needed Craft's only 3-pointer of the game — an arching shot over 6-foot-7 defender Georges Niang from the top of the key — to avoid yet another upset in the West. Four of the top five seeds have fallen fast and hard in that most-busted bracket.

DAYTON: Sam Thompson had career highs with 20 points and 10 rebounds on Friday night, part of a dominating performance by Ohio State's front line, and the Buckeyes ran away to a 95-70 victory over Iona in the second round of the West Regional.

The second-seeded Buckeyes (27-7) are in prime March form with nine straight wins, including their last five games of the regular season and a run to the Big Ten tournament title.

Forward Deshaun Thomas has led them in scoring during the streak, averaging 17.6 points per game. He had 24 points as the Buckeyes' fast breaks led to dunks and a season high in points, thrilling the large Ohio State contingent.

Aaron Craft had a season-high six steals and seven assists for the Buckeyes. Shannon Scott tied his career high with 10 assists.

Ohio State plays either Notre Dame or Iowa State on Sunday, one win away from a fourth straight trip to the round of 16.

Even though Ohio State hasn't fared all that well there since he's been head coach — never made it out intact in the NCAA tournament — it's still the place for his fondest college memory. It's where he hit a game-winning shot for Butler.

Ohio State's spring football game won't air live on television this year.

The game is being played at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati at 1 p.m. on April 13 while Ohio Stadium undergoes renovations. The game will air that night a 7 on Big Ten Network.

Tickets for the spring game are still available. General reserved seats are $12 and $5 for ages 2-6. Children under 2 get in for free. Club seats are also available for $18. Tickets can be purchased at OhioStateBuckeyes.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Iona is in the NCAA Tournament after winning the MAAC tournament for the second-consecutive year.

The Gaels were the fourth seed in the tournament, beating Manattan 60-57 in the final round.

Iona is riding a five-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament. The team is second nationally in scoring at 80.7 points per game. Senior guard Lamont Jones paces the team, averaging 23 points per game. Junior guard Sean Armand is second on the team with 16.6 points per game. Sophomore forward David Laury leads Iona with 10.4 rebounds per game and is third on the team averaging 13.1 points a contest.

The Gaels were 20-13 on the season, but don't get too caught up in their record. Eight of the team's losses came either by three points or less or in overtime.

Liberty was the only NCAA Tournmanet team the Gaels beat, but the Flames only made it by winning their conference.

Who will win?

CHICAGO: Ohio State is the champion of the Big Ten tournament — again.

DeShaun Thomas scored 17 points and the 10th-ranked Buckeyes used their stout defense to beat No. 22 Wisconsin 50-43 for their conference-best fifth tournament title on Sunday.

Thomas was 6 for 19 from the field, but made some big free throws down the stretch as Ohio State won the championship for the third time in the last four years. Aaron Craft had nine points and six rebounds, and LaQuinton Ross delivered a couple of huge plays for the Buckeyes (26-7).

Travon Jackson scored 10 points for the Badgers (23-11), who shot 38.3 percent from the field. None of his teammates reached double figures, with Sam Dekker next up at eight points.

Wisconsin and Ohio State were close for most of the second half, but the Buckeyes seized on a cold spell by the Badgers to move in front down the stretch.

COLUMBUS: Ohio State coach Thad Matta is busily preparing his team for what promises to be, based on a crazy season of upsets and close calls involving its national powerhouses, a crazy Big Ten tournament.

Matta, who seldom lets his emotions get very far away, first had something he wanted to get off his chest before talking about the tournament that gets under way on Thursday at United Center in Chicago.

Ohio State basketball players Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas were both named to the All-Big Ten first team by the media on Tuesday.

Thomas was also named to the All-Big Ten first team by conference coaches. Craft was named to the second team by coaches. It's only the eighth time in school history Ohio State has had two players on the all-conference first team. The last was Greg Oden and Mike Conley in 2007.

Leading up to their April 13 spring game at Paul Brown Stadium, Ohio State hold the first of 14 spring practices today. Although they're coming off a 12-0 season, the Buckeyes face several pressing questions. They may find some of the answers this spring.

Who starts on the defensive line?

The Buckeyes lost all four starters from last year's line – Garrett Goebel, Johnathan Hankins, John Simon and Nathan Williams. The Buckeyes shouldn't have trouble finding players to man the end positions. The team has hit on big recruits at the position and players like sophomores Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington should get the first chance to start. Both saw a fair amount of playing time a season ago. Canton McKinley product Steve Miller could also be in the mix at end.

Inside, the picture is far less clear. Sophomores Michael Bennett and Joel Hale could develop into starters, as could redshirt freshman Tommy Schutt. It will be interesting to see how massive 340-pound lineman Chris Carter is used. The redshirt freshman flipped from offensive to defensive tackle midway through last year's spring drills before taking a redshirt.

That's what the Ohio State Buckeyes face as they open spring practices on Tuesday.

Many of the team's best-known and most talented players return from last year's 12-0, turnaround season, including Sports Illustrated cover boy Braxton Miller, along with running back Carlos Hyde, linebacker Ryan Shazier and defensive back Bradley Roby.